Shelter for homeless to remain open through Thursday

Dec. 10, 2013

Loading Photo Galleries ...

Written by

So far the amount of snow that has fallen this month in the Ozarks is on track to exceed the total for all of 2012.

In 2012, the Ozarks experienced a total of 12.7 inches of snow. So far in December this year, we’ve had 11.9 inches of snow.

The average snowfall for December is 4.6 inches, the weather service said.

A mix of as much as 5 inches of fresh snow and single-digit temperatures have National Weather Service meteorologists warning of excessive cold risk today.

The Salvation Army’s overnight shelter for the homeless had already served 125 people through Sunday night. Spokeswoman Audrey Esther said officials plan to keep the shelter open through Thursday evening.

There’s a need for volunteers to help in the overnight hours. Interested volunteers can call 862-5509.

The wave of winter weather isn’t over yet.

Wind chill values as low as 0 degrees, mixed with the 1 to 5 inches of snow that fell overnight, has led the weather service to warn of cold temperatures through Thursday.

The coldest period is expected to be Wednesday night into Thursday morning, the weather service said.

That will be followed by a wintry mix of freezing rain, sleet and snow late Thursday night into Friday morning.

The precipitation is expected to slowly transition to snow through Friday.

The traveler information map from the Missouri Department of Transportation shows many of the streets and highways in and around Springfield to be covered or partially covered in snow. Roads in Nixa, Ozark, Republic, Sparta and Clever appear similarly covered.

Few accidents have been reported to Springfield Police this morning. Springfield traffic cameras show a slow but steady commute so far this morning.